do i have to be a qualified accountant inorder to start an accountancy business office?
do i have to be a qualified accountant in order to start an accountancy business office? or can i just open an office and employ accountants?
Small Business - 6 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
It would help i guess.
Answer 2 :
no you don't have to be an accountant as long as you are employing qualified people. You do have to be careful with the way you present the businesses to potential customers. If you are the owner/figurehead some might ASSUME you are a Certified Public Accountant. You don't want anyone to accuse you of fraud, or your clients to feel cheated.
Answer 3 :
No, but a better command of the English language might help. It's just an idea,
Answer 4 :
Currently, you do not have to be a certified CPA to offer accounting services. BUT.....you should know right now that all of your clients are going to be morons....and if you've ever worked with morons you know all the dum dum things they will do. Your work will really be cut out for you...especially since you are not fully qualified. ...and how do I know they will all be morons? .....because only a moron thinks its a good idea to trust their whole financial well being to somebody who isnt a certiied CPA. My wife is a CPA who runs her own business....I know she would encourage you to follow your ambition with this thing, as it will be greatly fullfilling...but she would also encourage you to get your certification. You will make alot more money too !. Good Luck.
Answer 5 :
It's a good question. I don't think you do. There are two types of qualified accountants, certified and chartered. Normally a "proper" firm of accountants will be registered with the accountancy professional body and the main man will be a chartered accountant. Otherwise anyone can "do someones books" and lodge the self assessment forms with the Inland Revenue. I think the problem may arise when you do audited accounts for a Limited company and make returns to Companies House. I think you would then have to be a qualified accountant (chartered). There are lots of people who do the accounting for small business with no qualifications at all. A good step might be the Accountacy Technicians course (AAT). The other problem might be liability. What happens if you do someones books for a few years, the they have an IR investigation and you are found to have, maybe accidently, given wrong figures?
Answer 6 :
If you are the employer, the buck stops with you. What happens if yoiur qualified accountants mess up, and you get sued? Who is going to insure an unqualified person against professional litigation? As the employer, how would you monitor work of employees if they were qualified, and you weren't? I don't think this is a good idea.
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